The fact that you and I have to calculate if it makes sense to switch from natural gas to heat pump heating is an abject policymaking failure at several levels.

The fact that you and I have to calculate if it makes sense to switch from natural gas to heat pump heating is an abject policymaking failure at several levels. This should have been abundantly clear months ago, with information campaigns and economic stimuli. Heat pumps are an important part of the solution. Even with 100% natural gas electricity production, they cut energy consumption in less than half [0] Simple measures and clear communication about them are desperately required. What about something like an EU level free energy voucher: - heating: local degree days [1] * 0.5 kWh/person for winter 2022-2023 - non-heating energy consumption: 500 kWh/person voucher for 2022 - voucher redeemable against electric bill, pellets or firewood, district heating bill, insulation, (shares in) new non-fossil electricity production/storage/interconnect capacity - clear communication about the future: less voucher/person, no more redeemable against Russian natural gas portion of district heating/firewood/pellet subsidies, ... [0] - natural gas electricity generation: 60% efficient - heat pump seasonal coefficient of performance: 3.5 (typical for central Europe, lower for northern Europe, higher for southern Europe) - heat pump efficiency: 3.5 * 60% = 210% - natural gas direct heating efficiency: 95% [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_day